Jad Freer Sisma Mega Thread.

[gtirard]

Hmm.. I was thinking about this amp to go with my barefaced three10

Looking back, I'm not sure I should have written that comment:

• It's all very personal, maybe you will have a different opinion (we should always try for ourselve, although I admit it's hard to try before buying when it comes to Barefaced or Jad Freer products).
• I've only tried Sisma + One10 at home, since I prefer using my Super Compact for rehearsals and gigs anyway. And I don't think it's very relevant to judge a bass tone a home playing solo, it's completely different from the perception in the band mix.

And I haven't tried with a Three10.

 

[Danny C]

Sisma has been working well with my Mesa 210

 

[badsneakers]

Really I just want a small size tube head that would fit on my three10.. the Volta is too much $$ for me at the moment. Was half thinking about the Ashdown ABM 750 , get some weight behind the sound with the class a/b power section and the search for what's "right" has led me to the Sisma. Not that I have a ton of complaints with Arkham oracle into a class d power amp, it's the only tolerable class d set up I've used.

Perhaps I'm just searching for problems.

 

[gtirard]

Really I just want a small size tube head that would fit on my three10.. the Volta is too much $$ for me at the moment. Was half thinking about the Ashdown ABM 750 , get some weight behind the sound with the class a/b power section and the search for what's "right" has led me to the Sisma. Not that I have a ton of complaints with Arkham oracle into a class d power amp, it's the only tolerable class d set up I've used.

Perhaps I'm just searching for problems.

You could replace your class D power amp by Jad Freer Coda, the class G power section of the Sisma without it's preamp.
You would keep the Oracle if you like it and just improve the power section. It would make more sense than to plug the Oracle in the FX return of Sisma (same tone, but you don't pay for Sisma's preamp that you are not using).

 

[badsneakers]

You could replace your class D power amp by Jad Freer Coda, the class G power section of the Sisma without it's preamp.
You would keep the Oracle if you like it and just improve the power section. It would make more sense than to plug the Oracle in the FX return of Sisma (same tone, but you don't pay for Sisma's preamp that you are not using).

Indeed... if I got the Sisma it would be to also replace the Oracle. Which I like but would likely find a similar tone with the sisma. I don't love having that big expensive thing on my board on the floor at clubs!

 

[STurner]

I highly recommend the Sisma - everyone that has tried mine has loved it.

 

[John D Harris]

Really I just want a small size tube head that would fit on my three10.. the Volta is too much $$ for me at the moment. Was half thinking about the Ashdown ABM 750 , get some weight behind the sound with the class a/b power section and the search for what's "right" has led me to the Sisma. Not that I have a ton of complaints with Arkham oracle into a class d power amp, it's the only tolerable class d set up I've used.

Perhaps I'm just searching for problems.

Another option is the Quilter BB V803 - yes, it has a Class D power section, but it is sort of its own animal.

Then later if you want a more flexible tone, maybe get a Coda pedal (or a modeler) and run it into either the front or the FX Return of the 803.

 

[badsneakers]

Another option is the Quilter BB V803 - yes, it has a Class D power section, but it is sort of its own animal.

Then later if you want a more flexible tone, maybe get a Coda pedal (or a modeler) and run it into either the front or the FX Return of the 803.

I really truly dislike the way the Quilter looks soo much.

Also what you are suggesting is what I'm currently doing with the Oracle into the FX return of my current class d.

The interest in the Sisma is to have something that sounds similar to the Oracle but all in a head rather than needing to have the preamp on my board.

 

[Danny C]

Having the Oracle and Sisma, I think they are in the same park. I have never used them together as I felt it was redundant.

 

[badsneakers]

Having the Oracle and Sisma, I think they are in the same park. I have never used them together as I felt it was redundant.

Yeah I can't imagine using them together!

I love the Oracle but I'm also always playing in poopie dank clubs and really would rather not have a $700 tube pre sitting on the floor.

If I can get a simular sound, or perhaps something I like even more on just an amp sitting safely on top of my cab that would be nice!

 

[gtirard]

Yeah I can't imagine using them together!

I love the Oracle but I'm also always playing in poopie dank clubs and really would rather not have a $700 tube pre sitting on the floor.

If I can get a simular sound, or perhaps something I like even more on just an amp sitting safely on top of my cab that would be nice!

I bought Sisma (and started this thread) for the same reason: at that time I was using a tube pre + class D amp, and I wanted an all-in-one. No regrets.

 

[Danny C]

Any preamp pedal I've used live has been velcroed to the top of the cab or head I would use with it for that reason . It would always be on for me, and the controls up higher if a tweak was needed is way better than bending over.

 

[John D Harris]

Yeah I can't imagine using them together!

I love the Oracle but I'm also always playing in poopie dank clubs and really would rather not have a $700 tube pre sitting on the floor.

If I can get a simular sound, or perhaps something I like even more on just an amp sitting safely on top of my cab that would be nice!

... as long as it doesn't look like a Quilter.

 

[John D Harris]

I really truly dislike the way the Quilter looks soo much.

Also what you are suggesting is what I'm currently doing with the Oracle into the FX return of my current class d.

The interest in the Sisma is to have something that sounds similar to the Oracle but all in a head rather than needing to have the preamp on my board.

@gtirard owns both heads.

He should be able to tell you how close the 803 can get to the sound of the Sisma.

I understand not liking the looks of an amp - I feel that way about the garish yellow + black Markbass stuff.

Even then, if a Markbass amp or combo could give me a goosebumps tone, I think I could get past my emotional angst.

But you do you and I'll do me - DSFDF!

 

[gtirard]

@gtirard owns both heads.

He should be able to tell you how close the 803 can get to the sound of the Sisma.

You can't get the Quilter 803 to sound identical to Sisma.

• Like the Quilter 800, the 803 has the "heft and authority" that you have with tube head, and is often missing from class D amps (of course, Sisma has it too).
• The tube emulation on the Quilter 803 is realistic, much more so than what I've seen on other solid state amps.
• But they both have a different voicing, and I don't think it's possible to EQ the Quilter to sound excactly like Sisma. It's hard to explain, probably something special in the mids…? I can't say more.

That said, @badsneakers is not looking for an amp that sound like Sisma, he's looking for a all-in-one alternative to Oracle+power amp. There are other good hybrid amps, especially the Mesa Bass 800D.

I'd be curious to try a hybrid amp that nobody is talking about: the GR Bass Groove. From the description and the very few demos available, I think I would like it.

I understand not liking the looks of an amp - I feel that way about the garish yellow + black Markbass stuff.

Even then, if a Markbass amp or combo could give me a goosebumps tone, I think I could get past my emotional angst.

But you do you and I'll do me - DSFDF!

I would never buy an amp if I don't like how it looks. Simply because there are enough great options available, I don't need to buy something I dislike. I know a lot of members find it ridiculous, but I don't care. Would you buy a car you find ugly?

I love the aesthetics of the Quilter 803, which I think has a nice "industrial" feel, and the brush metal enclosure lools much better in real life than on the photos — but I understand that others dislike it.

For Markbass it's different: the yellow color is so ugly that I don't understand how anyone can tolerate it, and I think there should be a low to punish Markbass for crime to good taste.

To be honnest, I bought a Markbass amp long ago, dispite the ugly color. It was a 801, because at that time there was no alternative for a super small amp that actually sound like a real bass amp. But I sold it as soon as I could, when I found the Phil Jones Double Four.

 

[John D Harris]

You can't get the Quilter 803 to sound identical to Sisma.

• Like the Quilter 800, the 803 has the "heft and authority" that you have with tube head, and is often missing from class D amps (of course, Sisma has it too).
• The tube emulation on the Quilter 803 is realistic, much more so than what I've seen on other solid state amps.
• But they both have a different voicing, and I don't think it's possible to EQ the Quilter to sound excactly like Sisma. It's hard to explain, probably something special in the mids…? I can't say more.

That said, @badsneakers is not looking for an amp that sound like Sisma, he's looking for a all-in-one solution to Oracle+power amp. There are other good hybrid amps, especially the Mesa Bass 800D.

I'd be curious to try a hybrid amp that nobody is talking about: the GR Bass Groove. From the description and the very few demos available, I think I would like it.


I would never buy an amp if I don't like how it looks. Simply because there are enough great options available, I don't need to buy something I dislike. I know a lot of members find it ridiculous, but I don't care. Would you buy a car you find ugly?

I love the aesthetics of the Quilter 803, which I think has a nice "industrial" feel, and the brush metal enclosure lools much better in real life than on the photos — but I understand that others dislike it.

For Markbass it's different: the yellow color is so ugly that I don't understand how anyone can tolerate it, and I think there should be a low to punish Markbass for crime to good taste.

To be honnest, I bought a Markbass amp long ago, dispite the ugly color. It was a 801, because at that time there was no alternative for a super small amp that actually sound like a real bass amp. But I sold it as soon as I could, when I found the Phil Jones Double Four.

I think the Genzler Kinetix 800 would be another option.

 

[fuzzspiral II]

Hi, I'm also curious on a comparison with the Mesa b800D or/and with a Genzler Kinetix 800. I narrowed my searching to these three (even if I would be more at ease with the Sisma, since where I live Mesa and especially Genzler are not easy, if not almost impossible to try or find out). I read ALL the posts in this thread and the Sisma has my full attention!

 

[STurner]

Every person that has ever heard or played my Sisma has loved it.

I have never played through the Mesa, but I have played through the Genzler. The Genzler is a good amp, but I don't feel like it is in the same league or has the same flexibility of the Sisma.

One thing that isn't brought up frequently is the versatility of the Sisma, that it can be used in the normal way plugged into the tube preamp, or you can also plug into the return and have a very clean class G amp.

The class G power section of the Sisma just has a weight, depth, and heft to it that I haven't heard from any class D amp that I have ever played through.

 

[Pontiac Thrasher]

The class G power section of the Sisma just has a weight, depth, and heft to it that I haven't heard from any class D amp that I have ever played through.

Have you tried the new Mesa 800D?

: )

 

[STurner]

No I haven't been able to try the Mesa 800D yet, but I have played the Bergantino Ultra, which so far has been the best class D amp I have played.